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Palmdale, CA Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 9a · ZIP 93550 · elevation 945′ · NOAA & USDA data

Palmdale is in USDA hardiness zone 9a (winters can dip to 20 to 25°F), with a growing season of about 258 days between the average last spring frost (March 13) and first fall frost (December 1). The warmest month is July (avg high 98.7°F); the coldest is December (avg low 36.4°F). It averages 6.8″ of precipitation a year and 1″ of snow, mostly mid-winter. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
9a
min temp 20 to 25°F
Last spring frost
March 13
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
December 1
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
258 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 98.7°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Palmdale

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Pearblossom, CA (11.3 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 59.7 37.5 48.6 1.2 0.2
February 62.8 38.9 50.8 1.6 0
March 68.7 42.4 55.6 1 0
April 75 45.5 60.2 0.3 0
May 83.6 52.7 68.1 0.3 0
June 93 60.7 76.9 0 0
July 98.7 67.5 83.1 0.2 0
August 98 67 82.5 0.1 0
September 91.4 61.6 76.5 0.2 0
October 79.8 53.1 66.5 0.3 0
November 67.4 43 55.2 0.5 0.2
December 58.1 36.4 47.3 1.2 0.6

What to plant when in Palmdale

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: January 30 · Transplant out: March 20
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: January 16 · Transplant out: March 27
CucumberswarmDirect sow: March 20
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: March 20
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: March 20
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: March 20
BasilwarmTransplant out: March 20
PeascoolSow (spring): February 6 · Sow (fall): October 6
SpinachcoolSow (spring): January 30 · Sow (fall): October 6
LettucecoolSow (spring): February 13 · Sow (fall): October 6
KalecoolTransplant (spring): February 20 · Sow (fall): September 22
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): February 27
CarrotscoolSow (spring): February 20 · Sow (fall): September 22
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): February 13
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: February 27
RadishescoolSow (spring): February 13 · Sow (fall): October 20

Dates are computed from Palmdale's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in California

Azusa, CAMonrovia, CAPasadena, CAArcadia, CAGlendale, CABurbank, CALancaster, CABaldwin Park, CA

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Pearblossom, CA, 11.3 mi (confidence: medium). Monthly weather normals: Pearblossom, CA, 11.3 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.